Calif. announces voluntary lead testing in schools
Publisher’s note: Lake Tahoe Unified School District did not respond to an inquiry by LTN if it will be testing for lead.
By Barrett Newkirk, Desert Sun
California schools can receive free lead testing for their drinking water under a new short-term initiative meant to address safety concerns.
Most schools are not required to test for lead, creating uncertainty about whether the water children consume during the school day is safe, but some schools in California have dealt with high levels of lead and in some cases shut off access to water coming through pipes and taps.
The initiative announced by the State Water Resources Control Board keeps lead testing at schools voluntary. However, if a K-12 school requests testing by its public water system, the utility is obligated to collect samples within three months and report findings to the school within two business days. The state said the program will stay in effect until Nov. 1, 2019.